SAHARA PRESSE SERVICE

New York (United Nations), 22/09/2004 (SPS) The President of the Algerian State, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, affirmed Tuesday in New York that any attempt to resolve the Saharawi question out of the decolonisation framework can only lead to total "failure" regarding the final resolution of the conflict, reported the Algerian Press Service, APS.

During the general debates of the 59 session of the UN's General Assembly, Mr. Bouteflika reiterated that any attempt to resolve the question of Western Sahara in another context than the process of decolonisation achievement, of which the United Nations is the only responsible, "can but lead to failure and postpone a final resolution" to the problem.

The conflict that opposes SADR and Moroccan Kingdom for almost 30 years "remains a question of a decolonisation to achieve", he stressed, recalling that "UN has, a long time ago, clearly decided that Western Sahara was a non autonomous territory that comes under the resolution 1514", which calls to the settlement of the problem through referendum.

The Head of the Algerian State recalled that the Baker Plan, which was unanimously adopted by Security Council and considered by the latter as an optimum political solution to the conflict, "provides for a fair and final settlement framework through the free exercise by the Saharawi people of its inalienable right to self-determination".

Besides, he reiterated that his country "can not nor does it want to replace Saharawi people in the determination of their future", underlining that the parties to the conflict are Polisario Front and Morocco. He confirmed that his country "will continue providing support to the United nations' peace plan and will continue to demonstrate its availability to contribute to the enforcement of this plan, for the sake of strengthening stability in the region and solidarity between its peoples".

Mr. Bouteflika saluted the UN Secretary General's ex-personal envoy, Mr. James Baker, asserting that Algeria had always "provided a constant support to Secretary General of the United Nations and his Personal Envoy, Mr. James Baker, who deserved it from our organisation for the tireless efforts he paid", added APS. (SPS)

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SADR/ITALY/CONFERENCE
The region of Toscana reiterates its support "to Saharawi people's struggle for its right to self-determination"

Florence, 22/09/04 (SPS) The vice President of Toscana's Regional Council, Mr. Enrico Cecchetti, reiterated the support of his region "to Saharawi people's right to self-determination and to UN's resolutions" for a fair and lasting settlement of the conflict over Western Sahara, indicated a source close to Polisario Front's representation to Roma.

Giving a speech during the first conference of the General European and African Regional Assemblies held in the 17th and 18th September in Florence, Mr. Cecchetti estimated that the conflict opposing Saharawi people to Moroccan Government must find its solution through a referendum on self-determination that will allow Saharawi people to freely decide over their future.

Toscana region has donated an aid to 30 African countries, of which SADR beneficiated of 13%m directly followed by Morocco, which beneficiated of 11%, of this same aid, according to a document distributed by the Italian organisers of the conference to the participating delegates.

The document also put forward the twinning between 133 communities and 10 cities of Toscana region with Saharawi Dairas and Wilayas in refugee’s camps.

Speaking before of the participants, Mr. Mansur Omar, Wali of El Aaiun, thanked the officials of Toscana region for "the constant support" to Saharawi people, condemning "the illegal occupation of Western Sahara by Moroccan expansionist regime".

Organised in Florence and co-organised by the region of Toscana, the Conference of European Regional legislative assemblies (CALRE), Italian Presidency, UN's economic and social department, this conference is patronised by the United Nations, European Union, European Council and Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The President of Toscana Region, Ricardo Nencini, declared to be persuaded that this event will have concrete results on the concept of decentralisation, estimating that it "is the adequate way to support democratisation, social integration, human development and good governing".

A delegation representing SADR and chaired by the Wali of El Aaiun, Mansur Omar, with the participation of the Polisario Front's representative to Rome, Mr. Mih Omar, was officially invited to take part to this conference, which culminated in the creation of a permanent Euro-African observatory for the promotion of political and administrative decentralisation. (SPS)

060/090/000 221144 Sept 04 SPS